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Malaysian turtle populations could soon be extinct

Some sea turtles population in Malaysia is on the verge of collapse and could soon become extinct unless urgent action is taken, scientists warned.

Leatherback turtle hatchlings make their way into the sea after being released from a turtle sanctuary in Kemaman on the eastern state of Terengganu late 17 August 2004.

“ There was a dramatic drop in the number sea turtles Malaysia last year,”the scientists said in a statement after a conference here, near one of the few nesting beaches are protected on the east coast of Malaysia.

“ Many of the populations at risk of extinction and could disappear in a few years if no immediate and effective action.”

The most vulnerable species are leatherback, olive ridley and hawksbill, international tourists whose ancestors roamed the seas for over 200 million years.

X1y1zs Malaysia was once one of the most abundant of the world’s population and Terrenganu state beach here is one of 10 major nesting sites globally for the gentle giant sailors peeled.

“ The number leatherback nests in Terengganu has fallen to alarming levels: from over 10,000 a few decades ago to less than 10 last year, while population and hawksbill olive ridley in other parts of the country is critically low levels ,”the experts said.

The conference was called by Worldfish Centre, an international research group based in Malaysia and funded by private foundations and government, to draw up national action plans as part of global efforts to prevent deaths Some species of sea turtle.

The conference was attended by over 40 specialists from Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and the United States delegation stressed the need for international cooperation of the turtle knows no national boundaries.

Main theme of the conference is that while the Pacific sea turtles is “ serious problems … They can still be saved.”

One of the biggest problems Malaysia is to harvest turtle eggs laid on the beach. If the hatchlings do not make them in water they face a myriad of threats from entanglement in fishing nets, illegal harvesting for food and shell and the destruction of places to eat it.

However, the scientists showed that the experience in other parts of the world shows that the “ sea turtle populations can bounce back with proper management”, citing the success stories of the protected beach in the Gulf of Mexico and South Africa.

“ While leatherback Pacific now the most endangered turtle in the world,”to protect the eggs in St. Croix in the Caribbean “ has resulted in an exponential increase in the number leatherbacks bersarang”-from about 20 in 1982 to allow the way now.”

The scientists proposed 15-point strategy for Malaysia, including a better effort to provide alternative sources of income for those who harvest turtle eggs for sale, the “ effective laws and policies strategis Dan”generate more nesting sites for asylum.

They note that the Terengganu state government has agreed on the sheet 60 hectares (148 acres) of beach and coastal habitats in captivity Ma’Daerah nearby as a refuge. This beach is used mainly by nesting green turtle.

The scientists concluded that “ while there is still hope, crucial for Malaysia to maintain the population of green turtles and hawksbill olive ridley leatherbacks before their fate.”